Fire-extinguishing apparatus



Jan. l, 1952 N. S. GRIGGS FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Filed May 12, 1949 INVENTOR: A/esz 5I $112515 BY EZ ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 1, 1952 FIRE-EXTINGUISHING i APPARATUS Nelson S. Griggs, Shelburne, Vt., assigner to Specialties Development Corporation, Belleville, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 12, 1949, Serial No. 92,806

The present invention relates to re extinguishing apparatus, and more particularly to improvements in the means for introducing pressure medium into a receptacle containing dry powder or the like to expel the same therefrom.

It has been a common practice to expelfrom receptacles free flowing iluids of the liquid type such-as aqueous solutions or chemical compounds which are in liquid state at the usual atmospheric temperature by providing a pressure head above the level of the liquid to cause the same to be forced through an outlet either at the bottom or top of the receptacle, a syphon tube being associated with the outlet, if located at the top, and extending substantially to the bottom of the receptacle.

Dry powder extinguishing agents, which at present are utilized more extensively than heretofore, cannot be expelled insuch a simple manner. The application of a pressure head alone above the powder level, is not suiii-cient to induce theilow through the outlet, primarily because the powder upon prolonged storage tends to cake or settle whereby its free ilowing characteristics are impaired. Numerous devices have been designed to overcome this difliculty but have been found to be objectionable because of complicated construction and cost of manufacture, and because the pressure medium intended to agitate the powder to induce its flow was applied with a sudden blast thereby enabling all or substantial quantities of the pressure medium to channel through'the powder and escape through the outlet without serving to expel vthe powder.` v

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatus for effecting the discharge of dry powder and the like.

Another object is to provide such apparatus which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, can readily be assembled, and is reliable in operation.`

',jAnother object is to provideV such apparatus which Aserves to agitate the powder adjacent the outletto induce its flow without channel-ling of the pressure medium therethrough; A e Another object is to provide such apparatus wherein a portion of the pressure medium is utilized to agitate the re extinguishing agent andanother portion thereof is utilized to provide a pressure head for forcing the agent through the outlet."AM

Another object is to Aprovide such apparatus wherein entry of the nre extinguishing agent into the pressure medium introducing means is pre'- vented.

A further object consists in constructing the parts and arranging the elements of the apparatusin a manner whereby the foregoing objects are` attained.

Y Other and further objects of theinvention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described. or will 9 claims. (o1. 169-31) be indicated in the appended claims,` and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and ile--A scription, and is shown in the accompanying and a syphon tube associated therewith and the` outlet of the receptacle, illustrating the position of the movable elements and the effect of the pressure Vmedium during initial discharge of the contents from the apparatus.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the lower end of the pressure medium introducing means illustrating another form of flow metering `or retarding means.

Referring to the drawing in detail and more particularly to Figure 1 thereof, there is shown aportable iire extinguisher generally 4comprising a container ID for storing a charge of Vdry powder or the like, a discharge controlhead or unit II including a carrying handle I2 and a valve body I3, and a -cartridge I4 for storing pressure medium which is supported by the unit I I.

The, container I0, as illustrated herein, may be generally cylindrical, having a side wallr I5, a lower end Wall I6 `formed to supportthe container in upright position and an upper end 'wall II.

'Ihe wall I1 has a filling opening I9 normally..

closed by a cap 20, and has an opening 2I in which a cylindrical portion 22 of` the valve body is secured. i

The valve body I 3 has a duct 25 extending from the cartridge I4 to the interior of the container I0 through which the flow of pressure medium is controlled by a valve 26 associated with the cartridge and provided with a stem l2l extending upwardly through the valve body. ',The `valve body further hasa dischargepassage which is pro- "vided with an inlet 29 in communication with the interior of thecontainer, an outlet 30 to which" a discharge nozzle horn or shield (not shown) may be connected by a hose 3l, and a valve seat 32 between the inlet and outlet. A valve controls the discharge passage which includes a valve member 34 for the seat 32, and a stem 35 extendnected to the valve member.

The` valve forcontrolling the flow of pressure ing 'upwardly 4through the valve body isfconmedium through the duct 25 and the valve for Y controlling the discharge passage may be ac- `improved pressure medium introducing means and a syphon'tube 39 constructed and arranged to cooperate with these "means whereby better discharge .of the powder or liquid from the container is effected.

UThe pressure medium introducing means, in the form illustrated herein, comprise a tube 40 adjacent the interior of the side wall I of the container having its upper end connected to the duct Vand having its lower end adjacent but,

spaced from the lower wallV I6, outlet means associated with the tube at the lower end, and outlet means associated with the tube above the level of the powder or the top of the container.

The outlet means `at the lower end of the tube serve a two fold purpose, namely to retard or meter the flow of pressure medium into the lower end of the container while agitating the powder without channelling of the pressure medium therethrough, and to prevent powder from entery ing the tube and clogging the same to thereby delay discharge.Y

VThis may be accomplished, as illustrated herein, by ,a sleeve-like Valve body 4| having its upper end connected to the lower end of the tube and comprising a downwardly facing outlet 42 and opposite side outlets 44, and a metering oriice 45 between the lower end of the tube 40 and these outlets. A valve seat 46 is provided between the orifice 45 and the outlets 42 and 44 for seating a valve member 41 normally urged on the seat by a spring 49 secured within the valve body 4I by an apertured disc 48.

The voutlet Vmeans above the powder level include an aperture 50 in the side wall of vthe tube' and a resilient or yieldable s'eeve 5:! having its lower end secured to the tube 40 and having a portion at its upper end normally overlying the aperture 5D to close the same. These means prevent the entry of powder into the tube tending .to clog,r the same and thereby delay discharge.

The syphon tube is positioned adjacent the tube with its upper end connected to the inlet 29 of the discharge passage and its lower end extending downwardly beyond the lower end of the tube 40. The lower end of the syphon tube is in the form of a right-angle bend or elbow 52 having asection extending substantially diametrically across the bottom of the container in a direction away from the tube 40 whereby the opening at thelower end of the syphon tube faces in a direction opposite the outlets 42 and 44 associated with the tube .40',

lnnoperation, when it is, desired to expel the charge of fire extinguishing agent. the lever 31 is manually engaged and rocked ina counterclockwise direction, as viewed, to rock the lever 36 and cause the latter to depress the valve stems 21 and 35 whereby the valves 26 and 34 are opened. Pressure medium in the cartridge I4 is released and flows through the duct 25 into the tube 40.

As-shown niorerparticularly in Figure 3, the

pressure medium in the tube 40 causes the sleeve v 5I to yield and unclose the opening 50. whereby pressure medium enters the container above the level ofthe charge to establish apressure head. The pressure medium in the tube substantially simultaneously unseats the valve member 41 whereby pressure medium flows through the metering or iiow retarding orice and into the lower end of the container by way of the apertures 42 and 44 at a rate to agitate the charge of fire extinguishing agent to induce free ow thereof without sudden blasts resulting in the channelling of the pressure medium through the t charge.

VThe pressure head is then eiective to force the charge into the inlet of the syphon tube 39, upwardly through the syphon tube, through the open discharge control valve, andy into the f. hose 3l.

In accomplishing the foregoing, the owV of pressure medium through lthe charge and into the syphon tube is further minimized by positioning the syphon tube inlet away from the apertures 42 and 44 whereby the pressure medium introduced through these apertures is `retained within the container and tends to work its Way upwardly through the charge, while agitating the same, to above the level of the charge and to become part of the pressure head for veffecting discharge of the apparatus.

By preventing channelling and loss of pressure medium through the syphon tube, substantially the entire charge of nre extinguishing v.agent is,

expelled from the container at a uniform rate of discharge. Likewise, blasts of gas are prevented from accompanying the re extinguishing agent and causing blasts tending to ianthe re or interrupting the flow of the agent or decreasing the rate of discharge of the agent to lessen its eiectiveness.

In Figure 4, a modified form of blast or channelling preventing device is illustrated, which comprises a disc 54 of porous metal or ceramic material positioned over the lower open end of the tube 40 by an apertured cap 55. The Dorosity of the disc 54 is such that it retards or meters the flow of pressure medium but prevents the entry rof dry powder nre extinguishing agents into the tube 49. 4

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the present invention provides improved re extinguishing apparatus for storing and discharging dry powders or the like. The apparatus is simple and practical in construction and overcornes the diiiiculties heretofore encountered.

Asvarious changesl may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative charge outlet means for said container at thev upper end thereof, means for introducing pres-kv sure medium to expel the fire extinguishing medium from said container including a `tube extending from the upper end to substantially the lower end of said container, said tube having an outlet at the lower end thereof, and a syphonY tube in fluid flow connection with said outlet means extending downwardly' adjacent said first tube to the `bottom of said container, said syphon tube having a section extending alongsubstan'- i tially the bottom of said' contaihenin a direction away from said first tube and provided withanl inlet facing in a direction opposite said nrst tube.

2. In nre extinguishing apparatus. a container for a charge of fire extinguishing medium, discharge outlet means for said container at the upper end thereof. means for introducing pressure medium to expel the re extinguishing medium from said container including a tube extending from the upper end to substantially the lower end of said container, said tube having an outlet at the lower end thereof and having a second outlet adjacent the top of said container, and a syphon tube in fluid ilow connection with said outlet means extending downwardly adjacent said rst tube to the bottom of said container, said syphon tube having a section extending along substantially the bottom of said container in a direction away from said nrst tube and provided with an inlet facing in a direction opposite said first tube.

3. In fire extinguishing apparatus, a container for a charge of iire extinguishing medium, discharge outlet means for said container at the upper end thereof, means for introducing pressure medium to expel the iire extinguishing medium from said container including a tube ex-I tending Ifrom the upper end to substantially the lower end of said container, said tube having an outlet at the lower end thereof and having a second outlet adjacent the top of said container, a syphon tube in fluid ilow connection with said outlet means extending downwardly to the bottom of said container, said syphon tube having a section extending along substantially the bottom of said container in a direction away from said first tube and provided with an inlet facing in a direction opposite said rst tube, and a check valve for each of said outlets adapted to prevent iire extinguishing medium in said container from entering said outlets.

4. In fire extinguishing apparatus, a container for a charge of iire extinguishing medium having an opening at the upper end thereof, a control head for said opening having discharge outlet means, means for introducing pressure medium to expel the flre extinguishing medium from said container including a tube extending from the said control head to substantially the lower end of said container adjacent the side wall of said container, said tube having an outlet at the lower end thereof for introducing pressure medium adapted to agitate the fire extinguishing medium at the lower end of said container and having a second outlet above the iire extinguishing medium level in said container for introducing pressure medium to provide a pressure head, a syphon tube in fluid flow connection with said outlet means extending downwardly adjacent said first tube to the bottom of said container, said syphon tube having a section extending along substantially the bottom of said container in a direction away from said rst tube and provided with an inlet facing in a direction opposite said first tube, and a check valve for each of said outlets adapted to prevent fire extinguishing medium in said container from entering said outlets.

5. In iire extinguishing apparatus, a container, discharge outlet means for said container including a syphon tube extending downwardly into said container having a horizontally extending section adjacent the lower end of said container provided with an inlet, a pressurizing tube extending downwardly into said container having vertically spaced ports adjacent the upper end and the lower end of said container` respectively, and a check valve for each of said ports.

6. In nre extinguishing apparatus, a container for a charge of iire extinguishing medium, discharge outlet means for said container including a syphon tube extending downwardly into said container provided with an inlet adjacent the bottom of said container, and means for introducing pressure medium to expel the fire extinguishing medium through said outlet means including a tube extending downwardly into said container having an outlet adjacent the bottom of said container and having a second outlet adjacent the top of said container.

'1. In re extinguishing apparatus, a container for a charge of i'lre extinguishing medium, discharge outlet means for said container including a syphon tube extending downwardly into said container provided with an inlet adjacent the bottom of said container, means for introducing pressure medium to expel the re extinguishing medium through said outlet means including a tube extending downwardly into said container Shaving an outlet adjacent the bottom of said container and having a second outlet adjacent the top of said container, and check valve means for said second outlet adapted to prevent fire extinguishing medium in said container from entering said second outlet.

8. In fire extinguishing apparatus, a container for a charge of re extinguishing medium, discharge outlet means for said container including a syphon tube extending downwardly into said container provided with an inlet adjacent the bottom of said container, means for introducing pressure medium to expel the iire extinguishing medium through said outlet means including a tube extending downwardly into said container having an outlet adjacent the bottom of said container and having a second outlet adjacent the top of said container, and check valve means for said second outlet adapted to prevent re extinguishing medium in said container from entering` said second outlet, said check valve means being a yieldable sleeve secured to said tube having a portion for normally closing said second outlet and adapted to expand when acted upon by the pressure medium to unclose said second outlet.

9. In iire extinguishing apparatus, a container for a charge of re extinguishing medium, discharge outlet means for said container including a syphon tube extending downwardly into said container provided with an inlet adjacent the bottom of said container, means for introducing pressure medium to expel the re extinguishing medium through said outlet means including a tube extending downwardly into said container having an outlet adjacent the bottom of said container and having a second outlet adjacent the top of said container, and check valve means for each of said outlets adapted to prevent re extinguish-` UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,189,271 McCaslin July 4, 1916 1,638,729 Friedrich Aug. 9, 1927 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 236,072 Great Britain July 2, 1925 

